Shock absorber



Patented June 10, 19254.

GEORG-E P. ING-RAM, OF CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No. 618,437.

T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE P. INGRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Campbell, in the county of Santa Clara and State oit California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shock Absorbers, of which the 'following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to improvements in Vvehicle shock absorbers and resides in the provision of a simply constructed, small, compact and inexpensive device of this character which may be readily and easily attached to automobiles and will operate to etectively absorb and prevent excessive shocks and jars occasioned incident to run ning over rough and bumpy roads.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing device of the character described which may be readily incorporated with the ordinary automobile without necessitating changing the .construe tion of the springs or other parts of the automobile.

lith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the device of my invention as when attached to an automobile, one of the springs and a part of the automobile trame being shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged Vertical sectionalr view taken through the center of the device of my invention showing a portion o the spring.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the form of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing there is provided a shackle-like body portion which consists of two elongated pear shaped plates 1 and 2, which plates are pivoted as at 3 at their upper ends to the adjacent end of the vehicle frame 4 and' depend Jfrom said frame. The pivot connection 3 may be provided with the holes as formerly employed to attach the spring 5. Theplates 1 and 2 are provided with circular openings V6 in which are mounted circular bearing members 7. To provide for free movementof the members '7, ball bearing members 8 are mounted in the openings 6 and engage the members 7 and the plates 1 and 2 in the usual manner.l The members 7 are secured to one another by bolts 9 and 1() which pass transversely through the members 7 and are secured in place by nuts 11, said bolts being mountedon opposite sides ot the centers of the members 7. The spring extendsbetween the members 7 and the plates Sand is fastened to the bolt 9 as shown inFig. 2 whereby upon tlexure of the spring', the members are turned or rotated as will be later more fully described. 'l

As a `means for regulating and controlling the action of the spring there is pivoterd on the bolt `10 between the member 7 theshort er arm of an L-shaped lever member 12. The longer arm of the leverA Aextends beneath the spring 5 and at its outer end is loosely connected with the spring by two platesv 13, ljoined at their ends by bolts 14. l a groove in the lower side of the lever and the other bolt extends across the upper side of the spring. This device regulates the action of the lever by limiting the movement of the latter awayfrom the spring.

A set screw 16 is carried in the longer arm of the lever intermediate the ends of the arm and bears against the under side of the spring at a point near but spaced inwardly from the end thereot1 attached to the bolt 9. By adjusting this screw the action of the spring is regulated through the varying of the leverage action of said lever.

A hook 17 having a threaded shank 18 is adjustably secured by a nut 19 to the lever and the bill of the hook extends Aover the rolled end of the spring when the latter is attached to the bolt 9. By this arrangement the lever, spring and other parts of the dcvice are securely held in operative relation. However, the lever has a slot 20 therein which permits the lever to move relative to the hook when the device is in action.

When the spring is under compression and tends to straighten out, the shackle comprising the plates 1 and 2 swings outwardly or rearwardly and upwardly and the members 7 rotate or .turn `from right to left, this latter movement being relatiyej to the plates land 2.- A's the member' 7 through @ne of. the bolts rests in Vrangement the spring is so controlled that its action Will be slow and smooth and tree from quick, `gerky compression and expair ysion lmovements usually occasioned incident and a bearing member on t to ruiming overrough and bumpy roads.

The'outer sides of the plates i and 2 have lcover Aplates 2l held thereon by screws '22, there being openings 23 in the plates in which the heads and nuts on the bolts 9 and 10 are received. rThese platesprotect the bearings 'from dirt, etc., and also actas nut locks.

l claim. y

y 1.` The combination with a vehicle frame and a yvehicle spring attached to the vehicle, of a shackle pivoted on said trame, a member rotatably supported by the shackle, means for attaching one end of the spring to said member, a lever attached to said member yand lextending beneath the spring,

he lever engaging the under side of the spring.

2. rlhe combination with a vehicle trame 'and a vehicle spring attached to the vehicle.,

of a shackle pivoted on said trame, a mem- Dber rotatably supported by the shackle means for attaching one end ot the sp ing to said member, a lever attachedv to said member and extending beneath the spring, and an adjustable bearing member onl the lever engaging the under side ot the spring.

The combination With a vehicle trame, l nd a vehicle spring attached to the vehicle, of a shackle pivoted on said frame, a niember rotatably supported by the shacklea means torattaching one end of the spring to said member, a lever attached to said member and extending beneath the spring, and anti-friction bearing members operatively engaging between the rotatable member and the shackle. Y

41. The combination with a vehicle Ytrame and a vehicle spring attached to the vehicle, ot a shackle pivoted on said trame, a inember rotatably supported by the shackle, means for attaching one end of the spring` to said member, a lever attached to said member and extending beneath the spring, and a bearing member on the lever engaging the under side ot the spring, said spring and lever being attached to said member on opposite sides oit the center thereof.

5. The combination With a vehicle trame and a vehicle spring attached thereto, ot a shackle pivoted to and depending from said trame, a circular member rotatably support ed by said shackle, means for connecting one end of the spring to a point on the ein cular member to one 'side of the center ot said member. 

